The Development of New Industrial Relations in Slovenia - UMAR

1994 (Stanojevič, Omerzu, 1994) it was estimated, that around 60% of all workers
(the rate of union density) were members of trade unions. The survey shoved, that
59,6% of the total active population were members of trade unions (and 4,6% of the
non - active population), and 63,5% of all employed persons (23,3% of unemployed).
Among “white collar” workers 54,9% were trade union members and among “blue
collar” workers 75,9%. As said already,, membership in trade unions fell from
practically 100% before 1990 to 63.5% in 1994 and (according to a new telephone
surwey) to about 42% in 1999. It now ranges close to the European average, which
is around 40% (OECD, 1991).
COMPARISON 1 OF TRADE UNION DENSITY AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COVERAGE IN
1990 - 1994
Trade union density 2 Collective bargaining coverage 3
1990 1994 1990 1994
Sweden 83 91 86 89
Finland 72 81 95 95
Denmark 71 76 69 69
Norway 56 58 75 74
Belgium 51 54 90 90
Austria 46 42 98 98
Italy 39 39 83 82
Canada 36 38 38 36
Australia 41 35 80 80
England 39 34 47 47
Portugal 32 32 79 71
New Zealand 45 30 67 31
Germany 33 29 90 92
Switzerland 27 27 53 50
The Netherlands 26 26 71 81
Japan 25 24 23 21
Spain 13 19 76 78
U.S.A. 16 16 18 18
France 10 9 92 95
SLOVENIA 100 64 100 100
Sources of data: OECD: Employment Outlook. July, 1997; Stanojevič M., Omerzu M.:
Javnomnenjske podobe sindikatov. Ljubljana, 1994. Notes: 1 countries are ranked according to the
trade union density in 1994, 2 trade union density: percentage of trade union members in all
employees, 3 collective bargaining coverage: percentage of workers in total employees whose
employment conditions are defined in collective agreements.
Collective bargaining coverage (CBC) is the share of workers whose employment
conditions are defined by collective agreements in all employees (OECD, 1997). The
coverage rate depends on the share of workers belonging to trade unions, the share
of employers belonging to employers’ organisations and the authorities’ use of
statutory mechanisms in extending collective bargaining agreements. In most
countries, collective bargaining coverage is higher than membership in trade unions.
France is the extreme case, combining the lowest unionisation rate and one of the
highest coverage rates. The reasons are: employers may extend collective
agreements to non-union workers, or authorities may extend the validity of collective
12